One of the loudest voices at the forefront of the LGBTQ pro wrestling revolution belongs to EFFY, a wrestler equal parts flamboyant, smashmouth and endearing. The Atlanta-based grappler isn’t afraid to speak truth to the wrestling powers, pushing for cultural evolution within the industry. Part of that evolution is expanding LGBTQ visibility through creating more spots for LGBTQ talent in promotions and pushing promoters to view LGBTQ wrestlers as more than special attractions.

Now, EFFY is taking on the role of promoter and putting his message into action this Saturday with his Big Gay Brunch event, a showcase for LGBTQ pro wrestling. The show is part of Game Changer Wrestling’s The Collective, a de facto independent pro wrestling festival that normally runs during Wrestlemania weekend every spring.

This year was no different as the Big Gay Brunch was originally scheduled for April in Tampa, FL. But due to the Covid pandemic, the event was postponed, calling into question when or if it would even happen. “I was way more bummed out for my friends and the talent that was booked on the card. For a lot of these people, it was going to be a huge shine moment for them,” EFFY told Outsports. “We don’t always have these big opportunities with this much hype and this many people talking about it. LGBTQ people, we’ve been the blip on the radar, but we don’t always have a time to let ourselves shine.”

With a number of live events during the pandemic under its belt, GCW felt comfortable running The Collective in Indianapolis, IN. But EFFY had his doubts initially.

“I said no, don’t do this,” EFFY said on Outsports’ LGBT In The Ring podcast. “Seeing that the city of Indianapolis was saying ‘you have to meet these standards, you have to make sure you’re safe,’ and we’re going beyond even what their standards are, that makes me excited.”

Much like the setting, the Big Gay Brunch itself had to be altered in the months since its original date. Multiple international LGBTQ stars originally scheduled for the show are no longer available due to travel restrictions and multiple wrestlers accused of abuse during the #SpeakingOut movement needed to be expunged from the card. The losses have proven only to bolster what already was an exciting card and gave it more of a personal EFFY feel thanks to the personal connection he feels to every person set to step into the ring on Saturday.

“I feel so much more comfortable with the card because, by the time we decided we were doing this, I had a couple of weeks to put all of this together. So I couldn’t overthink anything,” EFFY said. “It’s going to be magic.”

The lineup looks to deliver on EFFY’s promise, featuring nearly every major LGBTQ wrestler on the independent scene. Two matches stand out as holding extra significance though: Hoodslam founder Dark Sheik taking on the non-binary work of art Still Life with Apricots and Pears and an eight-person tag team match pitting the LGBTQ crew of O’Shay Edwards, MV Young, Billy Dixon and Joshua Wavra against GCW regulars and EFFY’s Second Gear Crew compatriots Matthew Justice, AJ Gray, Mance Warner and The One Called Manders.

In EFFY’s mind, The multi-person tag is distinct because it will show the regular GCW audience that more LGBTQ wrestlers can thrive in the companies regular hardcore stylings. Selfishly, it’s also an opportunity to put eight people with no fear of knocking someone’s block off into the same ring. “Once we walk out of there, people are going to say ‘god damn, they aren’t just the dancey sideshow anymore. This is real caliber,’” EFFY said.

The Dark Sheik and Still Life with Apricots and Pears match pits an independent pro wrestling icon who unapologetically built wrestling in her image against a young wrestler that holds immense admiration for doing it. “Still Life has such a personal connection with Dark Sheik,” EFFY said. “The whole world is fascinated with Hoodslam … they don’t give a fuck because they’re going to do the shit they’re going to do and having that attitude is something everyone should envy.”

Those two contests are only a taste of what is to come this Saturday. From a hard-hitting battle between Jamie Senegal and Allie Kat to an interpromotional dream match pitting AEW’s Sonny Kiss against AAA’s Cassandro to a tag team battle featuring The Sea Stars against AC Mack and Ashton Starr (and even Parrow taking on all the twinks EFFY can throw at him) the message is clear.

“This is going to be a jumping off point for people to say ‘Hey, we’ve seen this happen a little bit but now let’s all grab this thing by the horns and show them that we can do it too,” EFFY said.

Hear the full interview and previews of every Big Gay Brunch match, including EFFY’s own “Too Hot For TV” battle with Priscilla Kelly, on Outsports’ LGBT In The Ring podcast. Download and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and every podcast service where you find Outsports.

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